Arsenal to fight off Usmanov

Peter Hill-Wood has moved to attempt to scare off Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov by firing a warning shot, "we will not sell to you." Alisher Usmanov has only just increased his stake to 21 per cent.

David Dein has spoken of the need of a takeover at Arsenal for a long time if the club is to really succeed. Dein sold his shares to Usmanov's Red and White Holdings, fronted also by Farhad Moshiri.

However, after early takeover attempts by Stanley Kroenke, the Arsenal board agreed on a pact to not sell any shares before April 2008.

David Dein has continued to be a thorn in the Arsenal board's side, and was invited by Tottenham to White Hart Lane for the weekend game against Spurs, much to Hill-Wood's distaste.

"I would think Kroenke is probably a long-term investor and I would welcome him as a shareholder more than Usmanov - unquestionably," Hill-Wood told the Daily Telegraph.

"He is involved in sport and understands it. As for Usmanov, I am not sure what he wants or why he wants to get involved.

"He is clearly a very determined fellow, but it won't get him anywhere. It doesn't change anything.

"The board is absolutely resolute and they have no intention of selling to Dein and Usmanov.

"This is all very disruptive and I can understand the fans being upset. The club has been stable for many years and this is destabilising it.

"I think David is very much the architect of that."